Jeremy Piven was starring in "Speed-the-Plow" on Broadway and pulled out of the production midway through the run due to alleged mercury poisoning from a diet for sushi several times a day. There have been a ton of rumors that he just couldn't hack in onstage and that he showed up to perform drunk and unprepared and that's why he really pulled out of the show. It's gotten quite a bit of press which is why the NY audience was so responsive.